Surgical considerations of jejunal adenocarcinoma in a mixed breed dog

Abstract

An 8-year-old intact male pug/bulldog mixed breed dog was presented to Cornell University’s Hospital for Animals Internal Medicine service for a 5 month history of vomiting. At presentation, the owners noted that the vomiting had increased in frequency and the dog became more lethargic, inappetant and was losing weight. A complete blood count, chemistry panel, pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity, baseline cortisol, urinalysis and fecal flotation were performed. The only concerning abnormalities on these diagnostics were elevated liver enzymes. An abdominal ultrasound was performed and revealed a 5 cm partially obstructive mass of the small intestine and a 2 cm nodule at the head of the spleen. The dog was taken to surgery for an abdominal exploratory. A jejunal resection and anastomosis was performed as well as partial splenectomy and liver cultures and biopsy. The histopathology results revealed an invasive intestinal adenocarcinoma with close vascular association, but no documented metastasis to local lymph node, spleen or liver.